Harvesting a few key tips can help you know how to prepare for the worst and still live comfortably in your home. It’s never too late to start taking steps toward heavy-duty flood prevention!
With these helpful tips for making a flood proof house, you can rest easy- even in the event of flooding in or around your area.
Elevate Utilities
To flood proof a house, elevating the home’s utilities, including the electric, sewer, and water service lines, is essential. Having the utilities at a higher level reduces the chances of flooding in the house.
The best way to elevate utilities is to place them on a utility platform or at the home’s highest point. The platform can be made of concrete blocks, pressure-treated wood, or any other strong material that can hold the weight of the utilities.
Install Flood Barriers
Flood barriers are a great way to help flood-proof your house. Firstly, the home’s foundation should be raised to at least one foot above the flood line.
Further, installing flood barriers such as door and window seals, sump pumps, and sandbags will help keep out floodwater. Door and window seals create a barrier from incoming floodwater by creating a watertight seal around the frame or door. Sump pumps are placed in the lowest level of the house and will help reduce the build-up of water in the house by pumping it outside.
Waterproof Walls and Floors
Waterproofing a house’s walls and floors can help floodproof a home significantly. When waterproofing the walls, it is essential to seal the exterior walls sufficiently. This is so that any water entering will drain off the building and away from the house.
Roll-on waterproofing membranes and other amazing treatments can be put on the lower parts of walls to help keep water out. When waterproofing the floors, it’s essential to ensure that waterproof coats are placed on any areas close to the outside walls. This is so that the floor won’t be affected by any water that may enter the house.
Purchase Flood Insurance
One of the best ways to flood proof a house is to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance can help pay for building materials, labor, debris removal, and more in a flood.
It covers all house areas, such as the foundation, flooring, insulation, drywall, plumbing, structural components, and other items that may be damaged in a flood. When purchasing flood insurance, it is essential to consider the likelihood of your area experiencing a flood and the cost of flood insurance policy.
Read through the policy to understand the coverage provided and any restrictions. Additionally, consider installing flood alarms, sump pumps, and dams around the property to help reduce damage caused by flooding. Lastly, store personal possessions and valuables in a safe location.
These steps can help flood proof a house and protect its residents.
Effective Ways to Flood Proof House
Flood proofing your home is no small task, but following these steps can greatly reduce the risk and damage of a flood. You can protect your house and belongings with the proper preparation and planning.
Take the time to learn more about flood preparedness and invest in protective measures to better flood proof house.
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